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Jerica snorted. “Like Sunday morning?”

“I think I more than made up for that.”

“You did.” Jerica winked. “I haven’t had a minute to finish what we need.”

“I can wait.” Lila leaned against the counter, propping her chin on her palm. “So how was your weekend?”

Jerica’s dark cheeks rushed with red. It couldn’t have made Lila more satisfied. They’d known each other for the last year, and Lila had equally gotten the coveted invite to Jerica’s thanksgiving party, the one every lesbian in the county wanted an invite too. Lila had actually heard about it before she knew Jerica. The party had left a lot to be desired, but it’d been a nice break from her norm.

“My weekend was pleasant, to say the least.”

“Mine too,” Lila flirted back. “It was a great pick-me-up after how it started.”

“Oh?” Jerica’s dark eyes locked on Lila.

Lila had forgotten that she hadn’t mentioned what her original plans were supposed to be and her failed single night away with Ann. She shrugged. “I had a weekend away with one of my girlfriends, and it ended rather abruptly when she had an emergency at home.”

Jerica’s eyes widened. “What?”

“Just…go with it.”

Chuckling lightly, Jerica shook her head. “You’re dating a taken woman?”

“She’s in an open relationship, and I’m not in a committed one. Doubt I ever will be. I like being single.”

“Are you single?”

“Yes.” Lila gave a definitive nod. “I am not in a long-term committed relationship, nor will I ever be. Scouts honor.”

“I don’t understand you sometimes.”

“What? You don’t understand being poly?”

“Dating a taken woman.”

“They’re in an open relationship.” Lila raised an eyebrow back at her. “And really, you didn’t seem to mind so much on Sunday.”

Jerica rolled her eyes as she pulled out the order form. “I didn’t mind because I’m not in a relationship with anyone at the moment.”

“But you want to be?” Lila raised an eyebrow, hoping Jerica wasn’t about to confess to some long-time crush on her and that would end their time of fun.

“Not with you.” Jerica winked. “Promises on that.”

“Good.” Tension rushed from Lila’s shoulders. “But you want to be?”

“Doesn’t everyone?”

“I don’t.”

“You will someday.”

“No, I won’t.” Lila hated having to defend her choices in life, but she was not made for a long-term relationship. She loved her freedom and independence too much to move in with someone else. Her random dates here and there with others were exactly what she needed in life, nothing more.

“Fine, but dating a taken woman?”

Lila scoffed. “They’re in an open relationship. It’s not like she’s hiding anything from her partner. Trust me, I made sure.”

“Did you meet her partner and ask?”